He did get a Kindle Fire by saving up his money (we paid for half), but this is mostly stuff like Pop-Tarts and ice cream, with the occasional Nerf gun thrown in. I don't mind stuff like that once in a while, but if I let on that he could just buy them with his own money he'd never eat anything else!

Next birthday, wrap him up a box of Pop-Tarts and when he opens it, amazed to discover it is NOT the gift of his dreams, reply, 'You asked for it so often, and so piteously, I thought it would be what you really wanted for your birthday!' Oh, wait, that would be passive aggressive.

He did get a Kindle Fire by saving up his money (we paid for half), but this is mostly stuff like Pop-Tarts and ice cream, with the occasional Nerf gun thrown in. I don't mind stuff like that once in a while, but if I let on that he could just buy them with his own money he'd never eat anything else!

Next birthday, wrap him up a box of Pop-Tarts and when he opens it, amazed to discover it is NOT the gift of his dreams, reply, 'You asked for it so often, and so piteously, I thought it would be what you really wanted for your birthday!' Oh, wait, that would be passive aggressive.

That would be PA, but giving him a wrapped box of Pop-Tarts along with a larger, more appropriate birthday gift might be fun.

Logged

Any advice that requires the use of a time machine may safely be ignored.

She keeps saying she is going to make a smart phone app that picks a random restaurant based on location (and will take some customized parameters for the choice.)

Have you checked out Urbanspoon? You give it price and category parameters (Italian, Chinese etc) and shake it for a random selection based on your location. I know it is in the Apple App Store, not sure about Android. I also don't know how good the restaurant selection is outside of urban areas. (Threadjack over...)

Thanks! I haven't seen that. (But neither of us have an apple product so maybe that's why.)

She keeps saying she is going to make a smart phone app that picks a random restaurant based on location (and will take some customized parameters for the choice.)

Have you checked out Urbanspoon? You give it price and category parameters (Italian, Chinese etc) and shake it for a random selection based on your location. I know it is in the Apple App Store, not sure about Android. I also don't know how good the restaurant selection is outside of urban areas. (Threadjack over...)

Thanks! I haven't seen that. (But neither of us have an apple product so maybe that's why.)

Sometimes I use OpenTable like that - I sort by location & price and then just pick. Yelp too. I have apps for each on my 'droid.

What a timely thread! Just got off the phone with my 82 y.o. mother and sent her off to her annual-physical-cum-flu-shot. We live in the same city, so I'll often give her rides when she sees a specialist or the weather's bad, etc. We got a bit of a snow/rain/ice combo yesterday and a relatively warm rain today. This week is insanely busy for me, so I told her I'd be able to give her a ride but only if the roads were slick. She spent the last few days agonizing over the forecast and talking about not being able to drive, and what combination of temp and precip would be dangerous in what way, really worrying the bone. I just nodded, smiled, and repeated my parameters for the conditions in which I'd clear my decks and get here there. At which point she sighed, metaphorically let her legs go limp in the checkout line, and said, "I think I'll just reschedule for the spring. [quivering pause] And skip my flu shot." I pleasantly replied, "You do what you feel you need to do."

She did keep her appointment, after listening to the weather this morning, talking with me, and hearing a report DH gave me (he drove through her neighborhood to get to work) that the roads were wet but fine. After a very dubious, "Well, all right then . . . " she was on her way. I tell myself it must be just as exhausting to be her as it can sometimes be around her.

You may have seen my thread in the Hugs folder, where I said DH and I were thinking of skipping family Christmas this year due to drama between my mother and father, who have been separated for quite a while now. We decided we would go, mostly because my sister just bought a house and really is looking forward to hosting for the first time.

I found out a couple days ago that we are now doing Christmas with my mom at her house, because it's going to be her "laaaaaast year in her house." She's pulling the "last Christmas" stunt...with a house. I dread to think what this is going to be like once she actually starts reaching a more elderly age.

He did get a Kindle Fire by saving up his money (we paid for half), but this is mostly stuff like Pop-Tarts and ice cream, with the occasional Nerf gun thrown in. I don't mind stuff like that once in a while, but if I let on that he could just buy them with his own money he'd never eat anything else!

Next birthday, wrap him up a box of Pop-Tarts and when he opens it, amazed to discover it is NOT the gift of his dreams, reply, 'You asked for it so often, and so piteously, I thought it would be what you really wanted for your birthday!' Oh, wait, that would be passive aggressive.

That would be PA, but giving him a wrapped box of Pop-Tarts along with a larger, more appropriate birthday gift might be fun.

One year for Christmas my nephew received in his stocking a box of Ritz crackers and a pack of McDonald's gift certificates since he always asked for "real crackers" (as opposed to the whole grain, seedy variety my sister bought) and daily asked for a milkshake from the McDonald's they passed on the way back from school.

He did get a Kindle Fire by saving up his money (we paid for half), but this is mostly stuff like Pop-Tarts and ice cream, with the occasional Nerf gun thrown in. I don't mind stuff like that once in a while, but if I let on that he could just buy them with his own money he'd never eat anything else!

Next birthday, wrap him up a box of Pop-Tarts and when he opens it, amazed to discover it is NOT the gift of his dreams, reply, 'You asked for it so often, and so piteously, I thought it would be what you really wanted for your birthday!' Oh, wait, that would be passive aggressive.

That would be PA, but giving him a wrapped box of Pop-Tarts along with a larger, more appropriate birthday gift might be fun.

One year for Christmas my nephew received in his stocking a box of Ritz crackers and a pack of McDonald's gift certificates since he always asked for "real crackers" (as opposed to the whole grain, seedy variety my sister bought) and daily asked for a milkshake from the McDonald's they passed on the way back from school.

Nephew was THRILLED.

He would actually love to get Pop Tarts as a gift. Pop Tarts, hot cocoa mix, cookies, candy--basically any type of junk food. In fact, he might not mind getting only junk food for his birthday, as he constantly tells me that he's a "junk food addict" and just can't help not liking vegetables.

...One year for Christmas my nephew received in his stocking a box of Ritz crackers and a pack of McDonald's gift certificates since he always asked for "real crackers" (as opposed to the whole grain, seedy variety my sister bought) and daily asked for a milkshake from the McDonald's they passed on the way back from school.

Nephew was THRILLED.

My parents gave me a large jar of Grape jelly when I moved out of their house. They had banned group jelly from the house when I was 9 or 10. I would make myself a PB&J, with a LOT of J. Then I would walk around the house. One week mom and dad found Jelly on the ironing board and remote control, therefore the banning. (I don't blame them)Dad thought he was being evil PA, but I loved it.

Whenever he was asked what he wanted for any gift occasion, my father would always say, 'Bull---- and honey'.

One Father's Day, my mother and I decided to make his wish come true and we weren't being PA about it, well not much.

Dad was an avid gardener so a 50 pound bag of denatured cow manure was a useful and appreciated gift. He also liked honey on his toast so a big jar of premium honey also got put to good use. He enjoyed both the gifts and the joke.

Dad was an avid gardener so a 50 pound bag of denatured cow manure was a useful and appreciated gift. He also liked honey on his toast so a big jar of premium honey also got put to good use. He enjoyed both the gifts and the joke.

Dad was an avid gardener so a 50 pound bag of denatured cow manure was a useful and appreciated gift. He also liked honey on his toast so a big jar of premium honey also got put to good use. He enjoyed both the gifts and the joke.

Dad was an avid gardener so a 50 pound bag of denatured cow manure was a useful and appreciated gift. He also liked honey on his toast so a big jar of premium honey also got put to good use. He enjoyed both the gifts and the joke.

My cantankerous grandma re-gifts everything we give her. Last year it was Keurig coffee maker she gave to a friend!!! This year we gave her only consumable items like biscotti, teas, olives and salami on a pretty inlaid tray.

What did she comment? "What am I going to do with this tray?" Ummm...how about, serve food on it? Seriously, only gift cards from now on...or maybe only a card...

My cantankerous grandma re-gifts everything we give her. Last year it was Keurig coffee maker she gave to a friend!!! This year we gave her only consumable items like biscotti, teas, olives and salami on a pretty inlaid tray.

What did she comment? "What am I going to do with this tray?" Ummm...how about, serve food on it? Seriously, only gift cards from now on...or maybe only a card...

Or maybe you should call her up and say "Gran, we want to give you a lovely Thingamajig for Christmas this year. Which of your lucky friends shall we forward it to?"